Tom Kisken | Ventura County Star
The elimination of at least 7,000 Social Security jobs is causing delays in benefits and making it harder for people who rely on monthly payments, U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley said on April 21.
In a gathering on a sidewalk in front of a Thousand Oaks Social Security Administration office, Brownley characterized the staffing cuts by the Trump White House as a way of dismantling the agency from the inside.
The Democratic congresswoman from Westlake Village told seniors and others worried about Social Security she didn’t expect direct cuts to benefits. But she said the elimination of jobs will bring the same result.
“When you make it harder to access benefits, that is a cut,” she said.
The Trump White House announced in February its plans to reduce what it called a “bloated” Social Security workforce from about 57,000 people to 50,000 as part of efforts to reduce waste and fraud. The administration has repeatedly said monetary benefits to seniors won’t be cut. Trump also promised in his election campaign to end taxes taken from the benefits.
Staffing cuts and speculation about privatizing Social Security have ignited fear and frustration. Brownley’s gathering brought about 50 people, most of them seniors. One woman wore a T-shirt that said, “I’m a Grandma Against Trump.” Many carried picket signs that saidm “Elon Stole My Social Security” and “Hands Off!”
“I’m pretty scared,” said Deborah Snider, 73, of Newbury Park, noting she and her husband live off their benefits and also have modest retirement savings. “I feel like they’re lying to us and destroying the institution from the inside.”
Kathy Riser, 72, of Agoura Hills, said she received a notice that her monthly benefits were being decreased $600 without any explanation. She said staffing cuts and difficulty in contacting Social Security are making it harder to get answers.
Ann Stone, 71, of Westlake Village, said a family member has applied for Social Security. But the process has been delayed, and it’s been impossible to reach the agency in person or to make an appointment online. Hours-long waits on the phone end with Social Security hanging up the line so the retirement plan is on hold.
“It’s scary,” she said.
Away from the gathering, some seniors said they support the efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency and staffing cuts to agencies including Social Security.
“I think the government is inflated and has been for a long time,” said Dale Thomas, leader of the Westlake Village Republican Women. She believes benefits won’t be cut.
“I personally am a recipient of Social Security and I count on them,” she said. “I’m in no way concerned.”
Brownley said that in the wake of staffing cuts and other changes people are routinely waiting more than four hours to reach Social Security on phone lines. She said people with questions or problems are being told to go online but that computer systems are crashing more frequently.
Some Social Security offices are set to close this year. Brownley said she expects the Thousand Oaks office to remain open. She said she didn’t know the extent of cuts to the local office and noted the Social Security Administration is not responding to her requests for information. She pledged to keep fighting.
After the gathering, seniors stood in the parking lot and on the sidewalk, expressing their worries.
“I think we’re all living fearfully,” Stone said.
This story was originally published by the Ventura County Star on April 22, 2025.
Issues: 119th Congress, Seniors' Issues